The methods used in solving parallel AC circuit problems
are basically the same as those used for series
AC circuits. Out of phase voltages and currents can
be added by using the law of right triangles. However,
in solving circuit problems, the currents through the
branches are added since the voltage drops across
the various branches are the same and are equal to the applied voltage.

In Figure 10-131, a parallel AC
circuit containing an inductance and a resistance is
shown schematically. The current flowing through
the inductance, IL, is 0.0584 ampere, and the current
flowing through the resistance is 0.11 ampere. What
is the total current in the circuit?

Since inductive reactance causes voltage to lead the
current, the total current, which contains a component
of inductive current, lags the applied voltage. If the
current and voltages are plotted, the angle between the
two, called the phase angle, illustrates the amount the
current lags the voltage.

In Figure 10-132, a 110-volt generator is connected to
a load consisting of a 2 µf capacitance and a 10,000-
ohm resistance in parallel. What is the value of the
impedance and total current flow?